e-Gads!:Williams Controls' online parts bounty

CBS.MarketWatch.com

Internal e-commerce is still a wide-open field, ready for harvest. Williams Controls' subsidiary Hardee Williams is hoping to keep its agricultural equipment running with the aid of its internal Web site, wmco.com, where dealers can order from the bounty of replacement parts for the company's landscaping and agricultural products. Williams Controls chairman Thomas W. Itin said in a press release, "The introduction of this system is also an important step in adding value to the Hardee franchise as we continue to seek a buyer for the company, as we expect that this will allow Hardee to increase sales while substantially reducing the cost to process and ship a replacement parts order." The site is an e-commerce prototype for the Williams Controls (WMCO)
wmco
group of companies. Itin also told CBS MarketWatch.com other Williams divisions will eventually adopt the model for the site. International clients will particularly benefit from quicker access to replacement parts.

There's a lot of hot air on the Net, but Nicor Gas enlists a pragmatic approach to educating consumers in ways to use natural gas at home and perhaps save money. Its site, NicorGas.com, features a cartoon picture of a home where consumers can pinpoint cost-cutting uses of gas. Rocco D'Alessandro, assistant vice president of customer care services, said in a press release, "This is another way we're using our technology resources to bring information and convenience to our customers." Nicor (GAS) also introduced an online service, StartSmart.com, where consumers can transfer utilities services when they move anywhere in the United States.

Drop the clutch, click the mouse and smell that rubber burn: Autobahn International Motorsports is racing online with its high-performance aftermarket automotive parts store. The catalog, AutobahnInt.com, is sorted according to vehicle type or category of product, from tires to tachometers. As Pete Priebe, founder and chief executive, said in a press release, "Rest assured, when you buy from us, you buy the best. We founded Autobahn International Motorsports to provide the automotive enthusiast with a convenient and fun shopping venue that's open 24 hours a day." The Hillsboro, Ore.-based company was founded in 1996.

Charles Schwab has snuggled up in BabyCenter.com's online crib. The discount financial services company offers expecting and new parents insurance planning advice pertaining to their brood. The nascent site, BabyCenter.com/life, is essentially a site within a site at BabyCenter.com. Bill Klipp, president and chief operating officer of Schwab's insurance and annuities group, described the site in a press release: "[T]his alliance between BabyCenter and Schwab (SCH) allows us to become a part of a community that offers educational tools to parents, and that fits well with our approach to investing and financial services." Schwab's online trading service boasts more than 2.2 million active investing accounts.

While most online travel sites make traditional travel agents feel as though they're walking the plank, Carnival Cruise Lines plots its own course. The cruise ship company (CCL) offers an online reservation service, BookCCL.com, separate from traditional electronic booking services. Agents can also make reservations through Carnival.com. Bob Dickinson, president of Carnival Cruise Lines, said in a press release, "The Internet offers ease of access, convenience and 24-hour-a-day availability to travel agents, many of whom do not necessarily subscribe to the major electronic cruise booking services, or may be working from home or at hours when Carnival's phone lines aren't available." Carnival Corp.-owned Holland America cruise lines is expected to open its own online booking service later this year.

When British Petroleum and Amoco merged at the beginning of the year, they had to come up with a Web site for the new entity, BP Amoco. Mergers also mean job cuts. The petroleum giant drilled deep and also created a Web site to help fired employees find new jobs. The site, BPAEmployees.com has had more than 450 resumes posted so far. This employee interest is complemented by approximately 250 companies posting jobs. H. Laurence Fuller, co-chairman of BP Amoco (BPA), said in a press release, "Our employees are regarded [as] among the best and brightest in their respective professions, and we are committed to providing resources to help them to continue their careers."

JLK Direct is going after the manufacturing sector as it tools up its Web new sites for just-in-time e-commerce. JLK Direct (JLK) markets and distributes metalworking products through catalogs. The company has two sites: JLKDirect.com for its smaller businesses, and JandLIndustrial.com for its direct-marketing division. While the sites currently can only be used for ordering catalogs, finding showroom locations and general information about the company, they will eventually feature the full 130,000 item JLK Direct catalog. JLK president and chief executive officer Richard J. Orwig explained the site's purpose in a press release, "We believe the site will increase our exposure to the entire manufacturing market, providing JLK with even more opportunities to bid on proposals and more consideration as a supplier for just-in-time needs, as well as integrated supply contracts." The company has 1,500 employees worldwide and is 83 percent held by Kennametal (KMT). See Kennametal's e-Gads.

It may feel at times that, when surfing the Internet, the world is your oyster. If you're actually looking for pearls, dive into Man Sang Holdings subsidiary M.S. Electronic Emporium's new site MSEEmporium.com. The Hong Kong-headquartered company is selling its Chinese cultured and freshwater pearls directly online. The company (MSHI-BB) is one of the world's largest pearl cultivation and processing companies. Man Sang's chairman, Ricky Cheng, said in a press release that e-commerce "enables us to reduce lead time and enhance efficiency. MSEE will diversify the group's services and generate an additional source of income." The company distributes its pearl jewelry and processed pearls to more than 600 companies worldwide. Man Sang also has an exclusive deal with Mattel (MAT) to produce a limited-edition pearl necklace in honor of Barbie's 40th anniversary.

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